30 ANGLING FOR COARSE FISH. 



bindings of hooks, &c. (see page 20). As to creels, baskets, 

 and bags, the angler may please himself. My idea of a creel 

 is one with a flat top, on which I can sit, with a partition, 

 horizontal or perpendicular, to divide my lunch, tobacco, &c., 

 from any fish I may catch. For bottom fishing, one of large 

 size is often required. 



I believe I have now mentioned all the tackle that is 

 generally requisite for coarse fish ; but in their appropriate 

 places one or two special articles will be found described. 

 To go into all the modifications of tackle which circumstances 

 occasionally render necessary would require a volume three 

 times as large as this. The angler must have a certain amount 

 of ingenuity in him to be worth his salt, and in no branch of 

 angling is his ingenuity of more use to him than in bottom 

 fishing. He should always be asking himself: Can I safely 

 fish any finer? Is not my line too coarse? Have I not 

 too many shots on? Is not my float too large? If the 

 line can with safety be finer, it is too coarse ; if the 

 bait will keep the bottom with less shot, too many shot are 

 on the line; and if a smaller float can be used, the one on 

 the line is too large. Whatever happens — and queer things 

 do happen out fishing — invent something to meet the emer- 

 gency. Never fold your hands and say " It's no good." I 

 know heaps of men who go fishing who hardly know one 

 end of the rod from the other, and yet they catch fish — for 

 the simple reason, that they fish with other people's brains. 

 There is my good friend, worthy Sir Croesus Goldstick, who, 

 when he retires to his country seat on the Norfolk Broads, 

 aiter the labours of the Session, has an hour or two at the 

 bream. His skilful keeper finds a good swim, baits it, arranges 

 the tackle, moors the boat, baits the hook, and lands the fish. 

 Sir Crcesus lifts the rod when the float goes under, pulls till 

 the fish comes to the surface, and, thinking himself an angler, 

 boasts of his catch. Bah ! his keeper was the angler, and 

 Sir Croesus a mere automaton doing his bidding. I say, no 

 man should call himself an angler unless he can catch fish 

 without a skilled assistant to do the greater part of the work 

 for him. 



